Heat RocksTue, 13 Feb 2018 19:15:29 +0000Wed, 14 Feb 2018 18:40:59 +0000Libsyn WebEngine 2.0http://maximumfun.org/shows/heat-rocks
enhttp://maximumfun.org/shows/heat-rocksbikram@maximumfun.org (bikram@maximumfun.org)http://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/6/f/0/d/6f0db6c2db8c18e2/HeatRocksFinal.pngHeat RocksMaximumFun.orgyesbikram@maximumfun.orgepisodicPharoahe Monch on Main Source's "Breaking Atoms"Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:15:29 +0000MC extraordinaire Pharoahe Monch was no stranger to the trio known as Main Source (Large Professor + DJs K-Cut and Sir Scratch) back in the early '90s: Monch and Large Professor came up under the tutelage of the same mentor: producer Paul C. Though C was tragically murdered in 1989, both his proteges would go onto have banner years in '91 as Large Professor saw Main Source's Breaking Atoms released to critical fanfare while Monch enjoyed the same just a couple of months later when he and Prince Po released their debut, self-titled LP as Organized Konfusion.

Pharoahe Monch sat down with us to talk about his experience of buying Breaking Atoms on tape from Hot Waxx in Queens and having it blow his mind on that first listen as well as what he's learned from the album in the 25+ years since. Listen to this episode live at your BBQ...

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>MC extraordinaire Pharoahe Monch was no stranger to the trio known as Main Source (Large Professor + DJs K-Cut and Sir Scratch) back in the early '90s: Monch and Large Professor came up under the tutelage of the same mentor: producer Paul C. Though C was tragically murdered in 1989, both his proteges would go onto have banner years in '91 as Large Professor saw Main Source's Breaking Atoms released to critical fanfare while Monch enjoyed the same just a couple of months later when he and Prince Po released their debut, self-titled LP as Organized Konfusion.

Pharoahe Monch sat down with us to talk about his experience of buying Breaking Atoms on tape from Hot Waxx in Queens and having it blow his mind on that first listen as well as what he's learned from the album in the 25+ years since. Listen to this episode live at your BBQ...

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>42:58yesmusic,hip,hop,hiphop,source,breaking,main,atoms,1990s,pharoahe,monchfullKing on Outkast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below"Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:40:36 +0000The Grammy-nominated ladies of King are Anita Bias alongside sisters Amber and Paris Strother and it seems only right to have a super-sized guest talk about a super-sized album: Outkast's massive double LP from 2003: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Amongst other topics, we talked about how each of the three women first crossed paths with Outkast, what the group meant for the rise of the South in the 1990s, and revisited the endless debate over whether this as an Outkast album or a pair of Big Boi/Andre 3000 solo albums packaged together.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>The Grammy-nominated ladies of King are Anita Bias alongside sisters Amber and Paris Strother and it seems only right to have a super-sized guest talk about a super-sized album: Outkast's massive double LP from 2003: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Amongst other topics, we talked about how each of the three women first crossed paths with Outkast, what the group meant for the rise of the South in the 1990s, and revisited the endless debate over whether this as an Outkast album or a pair of Big Boi/Andre 3000 solo albums packaged together.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>42:47yeslove,the,hiphop,morgan,below,oliver,rocks,rhodes,heat,wang,2000s,outkast,speakerboxxxfullBardo Martinez on Eugene McDaniels' "Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse"Tue, 30 Jan 2018 23:53:30 +0000When we approached Bardo Martinez of Chicano Batman, we figured he'd go with a left-field album choice and he did not disappoint. Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse was a cult LPs for years, one of the most overtly political albums of the entire '70s (least of all on Atlantic Records!) and might have been wholly forgotten if not for '90s hip-hop producers rediscovering it and using it as sample fodder. However, all groovy groove aside, Headless Heroes is also an astonishing album in regards to McDaniels' explicit politics regarding everything from the U.S. treatment of Native Americans to blue eyed minstrels to Watergate. It was supposedly blacklisted by no less than the Vice President of the U.S. (Spiro Agnew). As Chicano Batman are no strangers to merging message and music, it was the perfect LP for Bardo and us to dig into, least of all in this current political moment.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>When we approached Bardo Martinez of Chicano Batman, we figured he'd go with a left-field album choice and he did not disappoint. Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse was a cult LPs for years, one of the most overtly political albums of the entire '70s (least of all on Atlantic Records!) and might have been wholly forgotten if not for '90s hip-hop producers rediscovering it and using it as sample fodder. However, all groovy groove aside, Headless Heroes is also an astonishing album in regards to McDaniels' explicit politics regarding everything from the U.S. treatment of Native Americans to blue eyed minstrels to Watergate. It was supposedly blacklisted by no less than the Vice President of the U.S. (Spiro Agnew). As Chicano Batman are no strangers to merging message and music, it was the perfect LP for Bardo and us to dig into, least of all in this current political moment.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>38:06yesthe,of,heroes,jazz,1970s,apocalypse,funk,eugene,headless,mcdanielsfullFrannie Kelley on TLC's "CrazySexyCool"Tue, 23 Jan 2018 19:34:52 +0000Frannie Kelley, alongside Ali Shaheed Muhammed, hosts the Microphone Check podcast and when we invited her onto our show, she wanted to talk about one of her formative musical experiences as a teenager: TLC's sophomore album, CrazySexyCool. The three of us talked about how TLC shaped adolescent ideas about sexuality and femininity, how the group repped the hip-hop South at a time when that was just becoming to be recognized nationally, and how the group had one of the more underrated liner notes font game going on.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>Frannie Kelley, alongside Ali Shaheed Muhammed, hosts the Microphone Check podcast and when we invited her onto our show, she wanted to talk about one of her formative musical experiences as a teenager: TLC's sophomore album, CrazySexyCool. The three of us talked about how TLC shaped adolescent ideas about sexuality and femininity, how the group repped the hip-hop South at a time when that was just becoming to be recognized nationally, and how the group had one of the more underrated liner notes font game going on.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>41:08yeskelly,crazy,cool,sexy,rb,90s,tlc,frannyfullVernon Reid on Jimi Hendrix's "Band of Gypsys"Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:52:52 +0000Vernon Reid is one of rock's greatest guitarists, having rising to stardom in the 1980s as a member of Living Colour. It's not surprising, therefore, that he'd choose an album by one of rock's othergreat guitarists: Jimi Hendrix and his final album, Band of Gypsys, recorded live at the Fillmore East and released in the spring of 1970. Reid gave us an amazing lesson into what exactly made Hendrix so brilliant, least of all on this album.

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Band of Gypsys unless indicated otherwise):

Message of Love

Jimi Hendrix on The Dick Cavett Show

Jimi Hendrix: Star Spangled Banner

Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced?

Machine Gun

Power to Love/Power of Soul

Who Knows

Them Changes

Living Colour: Power of Soul

Jimi Hendrix: Stop

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>Vernon Reid is one of rock's greatest guitarists, having rising to stardom in the 1980s as a member of Living Colour. It's not surprising, therefore, that he'd choose an album by one of rock's othergreat guitarists: Jimi Hendrix and his final album, Band of Gypsys, recorded live at the Fillmore East and released in the spring of 1970. Reid gave us an amazing lesson into what exactly made Hendrix so brilliant, least of all on this album.

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Band of Gypsys unless indicated otherwise):

Message of Love

Jimi Hendrix on The Dick Cavett Show

Jimi Hendrix: Star Spangled Banner

Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced?

Machine Gun

Power to Love/Power of Soul

Who Knows

Them Changes

Living Colour: Power of Soul

Jimi Hendrix: Stop

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>38:30yesof,rock,band,guitar,reid,70s,jimi,hendrix,vernon,gypsysfullBahamadia on The Kay-Gee's "Keep On Bumpin' & Masterplan"Tue, 09 Jan 2018 20:17:49 +0000We invited Philly hip-hop star Bahamadia to join us and she kept things tri-state by picking the 1974 debut album by New Jersey's The Kay-Gee's, originally an off-shoot of Kool and the Gang. The Kay-Gee's may not be household names in the same manner as Kool and the Gang or the Ohio Players but especially on this debut, they cooked up an impressively diverse and surprisingly eclectic set of tracks that defy simple expectation. What other band ends their album with their own "greatest hits montage"?

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>We invited Philly hip-hop star Bahamadia to join us and she kept things tri-state by picking the 1974 debut album by New Jersey's The Kay-Gee's, originally an off-shoot of Kool and the Gang. The Kay-Gee's may not be household names in the same manner as Kool and the Gang or the Ohio Players but especially on this debut, they cooked up an impressively diverse and surprisingly eclectic set of tracks that defy simple expectation. What other band ends their album with their own "greatest hits montage"?

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>34:28yeship,hop,soul,1970s,funk,philly,disco,bahamadiafullKris Bowers on Kendrick Lamar's "Section.80"Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:30:43 +0000To talk about Kendrick Lamar's studio LP debut, we wanted to find someone of K-Dot's generation, another L.A. young gun, and who better than pianist and composer, Kris Bowers? Like Kendrick, Kris grew up in L.A. and just as Kendrick has ascended the hip-hop ladder, so has Kris in jazz, as he won the prestigious Theolonious . But more than that, the web of Los Angeles musical ties was bound to bring the two into orbit in different ways - something we discuss in the episode - not the least of which is the fact that Kris covered one of the biggest tracks in Kendrick's early career: "Rigamortis."

In our conversation with Kris, we got deep into how he put together both the song and video for his version of "Rigamortis," whether or not Kendrick has a jazz sensibility in his style, and what it's like to see a hometown kid become the Greatest Rapper Alive.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>To talk about Kendrick Lamar's studio LP debut, we wanted to find someone of K-Dot's generation, another L.A. young gun, and who better than pianist and composer, Kris Bowers? Like Kendrick, Kris grew up in L.A. and just as Kendrick has ascended the hip-hop ladder, so has Kris in jazz, as he won the prestigious Theolonious . But more than that, the web of Los Angeles musical ties was bound to bring the two into orbit in different ways - something we discuss in the episode - not the least of which is the fact that Kris covered one of the biggest tracks in Kendrick's early career: "Rigamortis."

In our conversation with Kris, we got deep into how he put together both the song and video for his version of "Rigamortis," whether or not Kendrick has a jazz sensibility in his style, and what it's like to see a hometown kid become the Greatest Rapper Alive.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>34:34yeshiphop,los,angeles,piano,kris,kendrick,lamar,bower,2010s,section80fullBosco on Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun"Tue, 26 Dec 2017 20:39:27 +0000Bosco was an artist that Morgan knew, from jump, she wanted to get on the show. A Savannah native who's now an L.A. transplant (by way of Atlanta), Bosco's been steady climbing the ranks in the music game and has had a breakout year in 2017, especially wiht the release of her full-length, b.

For her pick, Bosco wanted to revisit one of the formative albums that shaped her imagination as a kid: Erykah Badu's sophomore album: Mama's Gun. If Baduizm helped put Badu on the map, Mama's Gun - which was produced by the same Soulquarian team also working on D'Angelo's Voodoo and Common's Like Water For Chocolate - firmly established her as the preeminent queen of what was then called neo-soul and these days seems better described as future soul. Our conversation touched on many aspects of how Badu and her sound landed on people's ears back at the turn of the century and how it continues to reverberate today.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>Bosco was an artist that Morgan knew, from jump, she wanted to get on the show. A Savannah native who's now an L.A. transplant (by way of Atlanta), Bosco's been steady climbing the ranks in the music game and has had a breakout year in 2017, especially wiht the release of her full-length, b.

For her pick, Bosco wanted to revisit one of the formative albums that shaped her imagination as a kid: Erykah Badu's sophomore album: Mama's Gun. If Baduizm helped put Badu on the map, Mama's Gun - which was produced by the same Soulquarian team also working on D'Angelo's Voodoo and Common's Like Water For Chocolate - firmly established her as the preeminent queen of what was then called neo-soul and these days seems better described as future soul. Our conversation touched on many aspects of how Badu and her sound landed on people's ears back at the turn of the century and how it continues to reverberate today.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>41:57yesgun,morgan,oliver,rocks,rhodes,heat,mamas,wang,bosco,erykah,badufullJay Smooth on Run DMC's "Raising Hell"Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:35:03 +0000Jay Smooth was always on our list of "people who we gotta get for Heat Rocks." His cultural and political commentary, much of which he does through his pioneering Ill Doctrine videos, have positioned him as one of the hip-hop generation's leading pundits and he's also hosted one of the longest running rap shows in the world: The Underground Railroad on WBAI.

For this show, Jay wanted to revisit Raising Hell a paradigm-shifting rap album that, as we discuss, has seemingly become underrated through the passage of time though it is unquestionably one of the most important hip-hop releases, ever. We get into the moment in which Run DMC first arrived, how they changed the game for rap artists (for better and for worse) and of course, all our fire track and sleeper jam picks off this LP.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>Jay Smooth was always on our list of "people who we gotta get for Heat Rocks." His cultural and political commentary, much of which he does through his pioneering Ill Doctrine videos, have positioned him as one of the hip-hop generation's leading pundits and he's also hosted one of the longest running rap shows in the world: The Underground Railroad on WBAI.

For this show, Jay wanted to revisit Raising Hell a paradigm-shifting rap album that, as we discuss, has seemingly become underrated through the passage of time though it is unquestionably one of the most important hip-hop releases, ever. We get into the moment in which Run DMC first arrived, how they changed the game for rap artists (for better and for worse) and of course, all our fire track and sleeper jam picks off this LP.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>40:40yesrun,hiphop,morgan,oliver,rocks,rhodes,heat,wang,1980s,dmcfull"The Prequel Episode" Loren Kajikawa on Dr. Dre's "The Chronic"Fri, 15 Dec 2017 17:24:18 +0000This is a special "prequel"episode, originally taped in December of 2016. Back then, Heat Rocks was just a mere glint in the eye Morgan and Oliver. All we had was a basic concept: how about a podcast devoted to doing deep dives into an album? We invited Univ. of Oregon musicologist Loren Kajikawa, author of Sounding Race In Rap Songs, to help us tackle one of the most important albums of the last 25 years: Dr. Dre's The Chronic, which just so happens to celebrate its 25th release anniversary today (hence why we timed to put it out now).

For our listeners, you'll notice that while this episode shares some familiar aspects with our regular Heat Rocks shows, there are some differences. For one, we hadn't come up with our format yet, especially in having our guests pick a hot track, sleeper jam, etc. We had also toyed with a little "Context" section - complete with its own jingle! - that we eventually abandoned because it was superfluous (Oliver did have fun making the jingle though). But overall, we think you can easily see the seed of Heat Rocks even in this very early attempt. Hope you all enjoy it and we're so happy to finally share this, one year later.

Show Tracklisting (all songs from The Chronic unless indicated otherwise):

Fuck Wit Dre Day

Nuthin' But a G Thang

Leon Haywood: I Want To Do Something Freaky To You

Public Enemy: Bring Da Noise

Above the Law: Livin' Like Hustlers

Let Me Ride

The Roach

NWA: Niggaz 4 Life (From Efil4zaggin)

Lyrical Gangbang (feat. Lady of Rage and Kurupt)

Stranded On Death Row (feat. Kurupt and Snoop Dogg)

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

Dr. Dre: Deep Cover (feat. Snoop Dogg, from Deep Cover OST)

Tupac and Snoop Dogg: Amerikaz Most Wanted

The Day the Niggaz Took Over

Bitches Ain't Shit

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This is a special "prequel"episode, originally taped in December of 2016. Back then, Heat Rocks was just a mere glint in the eye Morgan and Oliver. All we had was a basic concept: how about a podcast devoted to doing deep dives into an album? We invited Univ. of Oregon musicologist Loren Kajikawa, author of Sounding Race In Rap Songs, to help us tackle one of the most important albums of the last 25 years: Dr. Dre's The Chronic, which just so happens to celebrate its 25th release anniversary today (hence why we timed to put it out now).

For our listeners, you'll notice that while this episode shares some familiar aspects with our regular Heat Rocks shows, there are some differences. For one, we hadn't come up with our format yet, especially in having our guests pick a hot track, sleeper jam, etc. We had also toyed with a little "Context" section - complete with its own jingle! - that we eventually abandoned because it was superfluous (Oliver did have fun making the jingle though). But overall, we think you can easily see the seed of Heat Rocks even in this very early attempt. Hope you all enjoy it and we're so happy to finally share this, one year later.

Show Tracklisting (all songs from The Chronic unless indicated otherwise):

Fuck Wit Dre Day

Nuthin' But a G Thang

Leon Haywood: I Want To Do Something Freaky To You

Public Enemy: Bring Da Noise

Above the Law: Livin' Like Hustlers

Let Me Ride

The Roach

NWA: Niggaz 4 Life (From Efil4zaggin)

Lyrical Gangbang (feat. Lady of Rage and Kurupt)

Stranded On Death Row (feat. Kurupt and Snoop Dogg)

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

Dr. Dre: Deep Cover (feat. Snoop Dogg, from Deep Cover OST)

Tupac and Snoop Dogg: Amerikaz Most Wanted

The Day the Niggaz Took Over

Bitches Ain't Shit

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>40:06yesthe,hiphop,morgan,la,dr,g,funk,dre,chronic,rocks,rhodes,heat,loren,1990s,musicologist,kajikawafullSuzi Analogue on Missy Elliott's "Da Real World"Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:43:23 +0000Artist and producer Suzi Analogue originally hails from Missy Elliott's native state of Virginia though these days, she's rooted in Los Angeles, having come up within the city's beat scene. Suzi wanted to talk about what she described as the "underdog" album, Missy's enormously successful yet somewhat forgotten sophomore album, Da Real World, one in a string of five back-to-back platinum LPs for Missy and her production partner, Timbaland. We talked about Missy's creative genius and what that meant for a young girl, growing up in VA.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>Artist and producer Suzi Analogue originally hails from Missy Elliott's native state of Virginia though these days, she's rooted in Los Angeles, having come up within the city's beat scene. Suzi wanted to talk about what she described as the "underdog" album, Missy's enormously successful yet somewhat forgotten sophomore album, Da Real World, one in a string of five back-to-back platinum LPs for Missy and her production partner, Timbaland. We talked about Missy's creative genius and what that meant for a young girl, growing up in VA.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>31:44yesreal,hiphop,world,rb,da,missy,elliott,1990s,suzi,analoguefullB.Slade on Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814" (Recorded Live!)Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:54:59 +0000This episode is the edited version of our special live launch party we held on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, as part of the Voyager Institute. We were joined by Grammy-nominated soul artist B.Slade, a self-described "RhythmNation-pedia" who, indeed, brought incredible insight and knowledge to our discussion of this seminal Jackson LP. How many people can name every single dancer in Janet's "Miss You Much" video? Exactly.

It was a delightful conversation and having the live audience was great. It was our first time taping in front of an audience but hopefully won't be our last. Thanks to all those who came out and to those who couldn't, we're happy you finally get to listen to this.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This episode is the edited version of our special live launch party we held on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, as part of the Voyager Institute. We were joined by Grammy-nominated soul artist B.Slade, a self-described "RhythmNation-pedia" who, indeed, brought incredible insight and knowledge to our discussion of this seminal Jackson LP. How many people can name every single dancer in Janet's "Miss You Much" video? Exactly.

It was a delightful conversation and having the live audience was great. It was our first time taping in front of an audience but hopefully won't be our last. Thanks to all those who came out and to those who couldn't, we're happy you finally get to listen to this.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>52:29yesjackson,pop,morgan,b,oliver,rb,rocks,nation,janet,rhythm,rhodes,heat,wang,1980s,1814,sladefullThe Shacks on The Sapphires' "Best Of"Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:44:29 +0000This week, we are joined by The Shacks, the NYC-based duo of singer Shannon Wise and producer Max Shrager. Maybe you heard their cool cover of The Kinks' "This Strange Effect" on that Apple adthis fall? Or maybe you were already up on them from their EP, released by Big Crown? Either way, Max and Shannon threw us a curveball with their choice: a 1994 compilation of nearly two dozen sides recorded in the mid-1960s by The Sapphires, the obscure-ish R&B trio of Carol Jackson, George Gainer and Joe Livingston that recorded with Swan and ABC-Paramount before dissolving circa 1966. We talked about the unique sound of The Sapphires, the roots of Philly soul, and what it's like to dig through the crates to figure out your own sound.

This episode was both the first time we had a group in the studio, which was fun, and the first time we tackled an album from the 1960s. Hopefully, it won't be the last, for either.

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made to be Broken"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "I've Got Mine, You Better Get Yours"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Evil One"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Who Do You Love"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Slow Fizz"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Baby You've Got Me"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made To Be Broken"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Let Break Up For A While"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Gotta Have Your Love"

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This week, we are joined by The Shacks, the NYC-based duo of singer Shannon Wise and producer Max Shrager. Maybe you heard their cool cover of The Kinks' "This Strange Effect" on that Apple adthis fall? Or maybe you were already up on them from their EP, released by Big Crown? Either way, Max and Shannon threw us a curveball with their choice: a 1994 compilation of nearly two dozen sides recorded in the mid-1960s by The Sapphires, the obscure-ish R&B trio of Carol Jackson, George Gainer and Joe Livingston that recorded with Swan and ABC-Paramount before dissolving circa 1966. We talked about the unique sound of The Sapphires, the roots of Philly soul, and what it's like to dig through the crates to figure out your own sound.

This episode was both the first time we had a group in the studio, which was fun, and the first time we tackled an album from the 1960s. Hopefully, it won't be the last, for either.

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made to be Broken"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "I've Got Mine, You Better Get Yours"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Evil One"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Who Do You Love"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Slow Fizz"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Baby You've Got Me"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made To Be Broken"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Let Break Up For A While"

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Gotta Have Your Love"

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>39:09yesthe,morgan,soul,1960s,oliver,rb,rhodes,philly,wang,sapphires,shacksfullErnest Hardy on Sade's "Love Deluxe"Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:11:49 +0000This week, we are joined by cultural critic Ernest Hardy. Oliver first got to know Ernest through his remarkable writing in the LA Weekly and other outlets, some of which has been compiled into his Blood Beats Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 collections. For this episode, he chose Sade's Love Deluxe, which came out 25 years ago this fall. Ernest's deep love and appreciation for Sade was readily apparent to both Morgan and Oliver and it produced what we think is one of the most insightful episodes we've taped thus yet. We really loved this episode, we hope you do too.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This week, we are joined by cultural critic Ernest Hardy. Oliver first got to know Ernest through his remarkable writing in the LA Weekly and other outlets, some of which has been compiled into his Blood Beats Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 collections. For this episode, he chose Sade's Love Deluxe, which came out 25 years ago this fall. Ernest's deep love and appreciation for Sade was readily apparent to both Morgan and Oliver and it produced what we think is one of the most insightful episodes we've taped thus yet. We really loved this episode, we hope you do too.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>40:51yesmorgan,oliver,rocks,hardy,rhodes,heat,ernest,wang,sadefullAnil Dash on Prince's "1999"Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:03:35 +0000This week, we are joined by Anil Dash, the tech entrepreneur and activist whose love for The Purple One is legendary. He takes us into the Heat Rocks deep dive for Prince's 1999, the album that marked his new wave turn.All three of us share tales of our older family members being scandalized by the sexy-sexiness on the album. Mmmmmm...spicy.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This week, we are joined by Anil Dash, the tech entrepreneur and activist whose love for The Purple One is legendary. He takes us into the Heat Rocks deep dive for Prince's 1999, the album that marked his new wave turn.All three of us share tales of our older family members being scandalized by the sexy-sexiness on the album. Mmmmmm...spicy.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>45:35yespop,morgan,oliver,rb,prince,dash,rocks,rhodes,purple,heat,1999,wang,anilfullIll Camille on Common's "Like Water for Chocolate"Tue, 07 Nov 2017 18:02:42 +0000This week, we are joined by Los Angeles rapper, Ill Camille. She picked Common's Like Water For Chocolate from 2000, a moment that marked the Chicago's turn towards becoming a hip-hop elder statesman, backed by the production might of the Soulquarians crew. Camille's love for the album runs deep and during the course of our taping, she'd bust out Common's rhymes, line for line.

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Geto Heaven"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "A Song For Assata (Feat. Cee-Lo Green)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Funky For You (Feat. Bilal & Jill Scott)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "The Light"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Thelonius (Feat. Slum Village)"

Georgia Ann Muldrow: "Untitled/Fantastic Remix"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Dooinit"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Time Travelin (A Tribute to Fela)"

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]]>This week, we are joined by Los Angeles rapper, Ill Camille. She picked Common's Like Water For Chocolate from 2000, a moment that marked the Chicago's turn towards becoming a hip-hop elder statesman, backed by the production might of the Soulquarians crew. Camille's love for the album runs deep and during the course of our taping, she'd bust out Common's rhymes, line for line.

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Geto Heaven"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "A Song For Assata (Feat. Cee-Lo Green)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Funky For You (Feat. Bilal & Jill Scott)"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "The Light"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Thelonius (Feat. Slum Village)"

Georgia Ann Muldrow: "Untitled/Fantastic Remix"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Dooinit"

Common: Like Water For Chocolate "Time Travelin (A Tribute to Fela)"

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]]>37:50yeswater,for,hiphop,morgan,common,chocolate,oliver,rocks,ill,like,rhodes,heat,camille,wang,2000sfullDam-Funk on Change's "Miracles"Tue, 31 Oct 2017 18:00:56 +0000This week, we are joined by Dam-Funk, Stones Throw recording artist, resident DJ for the legendary Funkmosphere parties and all-around apostle of the boogie. He was one of the very first artists we invited to tape Heat Rocks, back in its pilot stage, and we're very pleased to finally shared the episode in which he took us on a deep trip into Change's Miracles.

Along the way, we talked about the post-disco, Chic-era of funk and R&B, how Italian and New York musical communities collided on this album, and how a young kid, growing up in Pasadena, would drive up to Mt. Wilson, bumping this on cassette.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>This week, we are joined by Dam-Funk, Stones Throw recording artist, resident DJ for the legendary Funkmosphere parties and all-around apostle of the boogie. He was one of the very first artists we invited to tape Heat Rocks, back in its pilot stage, and we're very pleased to finally shared the episode in which he took us on a deep trip into Change's Miracles.

Along the way, we talked about the post-disco, Chic-era of funk and R&B, how Italian and New York musical communities collided on this album, and how a young kid, growing up in Pasadena, would drive up to Mt. Wilson, bumping this on cassette.

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

]]>35:51nomusic,morgan,soul,oliver,funk,rocks,rhodes,heat,disco,wang,1980s,damfunkfullShea Serrano on DMX's "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot"Tue, 24 Oct 2017 18:00:18 +0000This week, we are joined by Shea Serrano, contributor at TheRinger.com, author of both The Rap Yearbook and the brand new Basketball (And Other Things). For his heat rock, he choose DMX's smash debut LP, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. *woof*

During our conversation, we learned how it was Shea's grandmother, of all people, who introduced him to DMX and how that album became the formative soundtrack for him as a teenager. Shea drops wisdom nuggets on the nature of pain in DMX's persona and how this album marked a repudiation of the direction hip-hop was headed in during the jiggy era.

During our conversation, we learned how it was Shea's grandmother, of all people, who introduced him to DMX and how that album became the formative soundtrack for him as a teenager. Shea drops wisdom nuggets on the nature of pain in DMX's persona and how this album marked a repudiation of the direction hip-hop was headed in during the jiggy era.

]]>41:50yesmusic,hip,hop,rap,eve,morgan,oliver,50,cent,rocks,shea,rhodes,heat,serrano,wang,earbookfullAnn Powers on Madonna's "Like A Prayer"Tue, 17 Oct 2017 16:40:42 +0000This week, Morgan and Oliver are joined by Ann Powers of NPR Music and author of the new book, Good Booty: Love and Sex, Black and White, Body and Soul in American Music. Together, the three dug into Like a Prayer, Madonna's critical breakout album form 1989. As Ann lays out, Madonna had already established herself as an MTV-era mega-star with her previous albums but Like a Prayer, with its then-controversial sexual politics and surprising personal candor, marked a new level of artistic ambition.]]>This week, Morgan and Oliver are joined by Ann Powers of NPR Music and author of the new book, Good Booty: Love and Sex, Black and White, Body and Soul in American Music. Together, the three dug into Like a Prayer, Madonna's critical breakout album form 1989. As Ann lays out, Madonna had already established herself as an MTV-era mega-star with her previous albums but Like a Prayer, with its then-controversial sexual politics and surprising personal candor, marked a new level of artistic ambition.]]>47:42yesa,pop,morgan,prayer,oliver,powers,ann,madonna,80s,rocks,like,rhodes,heat,wang,synthfullPhonte on Intro's 1993 Self-Titled AlbumTue, 10 Oct 2017 06:44:58 +0000This week rapper, producer, and songwriter Phonte (Foreign Exchange, Little Brother) joins Oliver and Morgan to talk about the R&B group Intro's 1993 self-titled debut album. The trio's release was part of the changing tide of R&B music, when slow jams were giving way to more uptempo hits and singers were exchanging suits for Timbs and jeans.

Phonte shares about what Intro's brand of new jack swing meant to him as a teenager growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Don't get him wrong: he was a hardcore hip-hop head, but he grew up in an R&B household and in church where singing became a big part of his musical formation. Phonte breaks down the group's influence on his understanding of songwriting, lyrics, and the balance between uptempo and down-tempo songs. He also discusses the album's mature themes, crediting them for helping a young brother's macking game.

]]>This week rapper, producer, and songwriter Phonte (Foreign Exchange, Little Brother) joins Oliver and Morgan to talk about the R&B group Intro's 1993 self-titled debut album. The trio's release was part of the changing tide of R&B music, when slow jams were giving way to more uptempo hits and singers were exchanging suits for Timbs and jeans.

Phonte shares about what Intro's brand of new jack swing meant to him as a teenager growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Don't get him wrong: he was a hardcore hip-hop head, but he grew up in an R&B household and in church where singing became a big part of his musical formation. Phonte breaks down the group's influence on his understanding of songwriting, lyrics, and the balance between uptempo and down-tempo songs. He also discusses the album's mature themes, crediting them for helping a young brother's macking game.

It's really an obvious pairing: Betty Davis was one of the most original and fascinating figures of the 1970s, and Joi is an artist very much cut from Betty's cloth, but a generation later. We had a super fun conversation about the importance and uniqueness of Betty and what she's meant, especially, to waves of Black women artists who've followed in her path in the 40+ years since.

Watch for Joi's new album, Rebekkah HolyLove Salvation Symphony, this fall! ]]>On the premiere episode of Heat Rocks, future soul artist Joi Gilliam joins Morgan and Oliver to talk about They Say I'm Different, the 1974 album by the unsung queen of funk, Betty Davis! It's really an obvious pairing: Betty Davis was one of the most original and fascinating figures of the 1970s, and Joi is an artist very much cut from Betty's cloth, but a generation later. We had a super fun conversation about the importance and uniqueness of Betty and what she's meant, especially, to waves of Black women artists who've followed in her path in the 40+ years since. Watch for Joi's new album, Rebekkah HolyLove Salvation Symphony, this fall! ]]>33:46yesfullMaximumFun.orgSubscribe now to Heat Rocks, starting October 3rd!Thu, 28 Sep 2017 17:34:36 +0000What's a heat rock? Oliver Wang and Morgan Rhodes explain in this sneak preview of their new show, coming to you October 3rd. New episodes every Tuesday! ]]>What's a heat rock? Oliver Wang and Morgan Rhodes explain in this sneak preview of their new show, coming to you October 3rd. New episodes every Tuesday! ]]>02:24cleantrailer